Talks of a potential cabinet expansion under the incoming government has left foreign businesses and experts leery of more red tape that could hamper Indonesia's ease of doing business as a result of unnecessary complexities in both regulatory and interinstitutional coordination.

The leadership crisis at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) continues as Arsjad Rasjid and Anindya Bakrie both claim to be the lobby group’s chairman following a meeting mediated by Golkar Party chairman Bahlil Lahadalia.

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan partially blames the EU for having too many demands that have resulted in further delays to the negotiations.

The dialogue is part of the three-day 24th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF-24) that began on Wednesday. It is being held in conjunction with the 42nd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM).

Deputy Finance Minister Thomas “Tommy” Djiwandono has admitted that spending on the construction of Nusantara, the future capital city located in East Kalimantan, could exceed the planned budget cap.

Implementing the global minimum tax (GMT) in Indonesia was neither optional nor easy, the deputy finance minister said at this year's International Tax Forum, and would require internal and external support to ensure the country benefited from the global policy while remaining an attractive investment destination.

The proposal to reinstate the incentive has resurfaced amid falling car sales. During the first half of 2024, wholesale, or factory-to-dealer sales, were down 19.5 percent year-on-year (yoy) to 408,012 units from the same period last year.

Putra Adhiguna, managing director at the Energy Shift Institute, said the stipulation would safeguard PLN in the scheme's decision-making process, but such flexibility could also cause uncertainty for investments.

The Biden administration has raised serious concerns about the collection of data by Chinese companies on US drivers and infrastructure as well as the potential foreign manipulation of vehicles connected to the internet and navigation systems. 

The President said he expected the government would soon hold 61 percent of gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia and urged the public to consider the firm an Indonesian entity.

After being passed into law, the budget plan for 2025 can still be revised by the incoming administration to accommodate its priorities.

The Fed's decision will affect the rates at which commercial banks lend to consumers and businesses, bringing down the cost of borrowing on everything from mortgages to credit cards.

The reduction of Bank Indonesia’s key interest rate brings to an end more than two years of rising borrowing costs. The move follows weeks of well-contained inflation and a strengthening rupiah and comes just hours ahead of a much-anticipated interest rate decision by the United States’ Federal Reserve.

Students in most private schools in big cities, especially Jakarta, are affluent and the agency emphasized that their participation would be optional. 

The government and the House of Representatives are one step closer to inking the 2025 state budget bill, but the draft leaves many questions unanswered regarding the impending government transition and funding for key projects.

Delivering a strong rebuke to the Big Four firm, China's securities regulator said its investigation found that PwC Zhong Tian LLP "turned a blind eye" to and "even condoned" Evergrande's fraud while auditing the annual results of the developer's onshore flagship unit - Hengda Real Estate and assisting its bond issuance - in 2019 and 2020.

The Industry Ministry has proposed giving incentives sweetened beverage producers to counter an excise on their products that may kick in at the start of next year.

The government has stated that the introduction of cleaner – and costlier – fuel later this year will not necessitate price hikes or put further strain on the state budget. Instead, the rollout will be financed by preventing wealthier consumers from purchasing subsidized fuel.

The promised state revenue agency would be responsible for boosting tax revenue to fund Prabowo's campaign promises.

The deputy finance minister has revealed that the 2025 state budget plan has adequate fiscal space for the agenda of Prabowo's incoming government, including the creation of any new ministries under a law revision that eliminates the cap of 34, which is expected to be passed before the end of this month.

The government said it would make tech platforms set codes of conduct governing how they stop dangerous falsehoods spreading, to be approved by a regulator. The regulator would set its own standard if a platform failed to do so, then fine companies for non-compliance.

Cabbies, private-hire drivers and freelance delivery workers who rely on online matching platforms for income will get better labor protection in Singapore from Jan 1, 2025.

A regulation that would reopen the exports is set to take effect on Oct. 8, 30 working days from the day it was signed on Aug. 26.

Katsunobu Kato, Japan's former health minister and a candidate running in the ruling party leadership race, on Tuesday called for compiling a stimulus package to fund spending to boost domestic investment and revitalize regional economies.

The proposed program would require workers earning above a certain amount to enroll in an additional pension fund program.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said the moratorium could last five-10 years if the need arose, based on the government's assessment of current conditions. 

Hippindo has urged the government to consider tighter supervision and enforcement at ports of entry to tackle illegal imports, arguing that the Industry Ministry's plan to shift the destination zone to eastern Indonesia might only pass higher logistics costs on to consumers.

The government has allocated Rp 109.62 trillion (US$7.1 billion) worth of buffer funds, which were initially earmarked as reserves for education, transfers to regions and general purposes, to finance president-elect Prabowo Subianto’s costly Quick Win programs.

Experts believe that investors may only agree to invest in LCS projects if offered significant discounts, potentially leading to financial losses for the country.

This move will see a new Housing Ministry split from the current Public Works and Housing Ministry as Prabowo seeks to position the housing sector as a linchpin of economic growth under his presidency.